Well, we had to start somewhere. As Canadians, we have the bad habit of trying to make sure that everything is ok and perfect before undertaking anything. So here goes anyways.

This piece is unabashed bragging and breast beating, as well as an attempt at showing the world some of the reasons why the United Nations has chosen Canada as the best place to live in... in the world.

Recent events in south-eastern Ontario, south-western Québec, and parts of the maritimes (notably New Brunswick) have been in the news throughout Canada and in major news reports around the world.

To recap... Major disaster involving repurcusions from El Niño... Canada digs out of a new Ice Age... Hydro power out... People left in the dark... and cold... buildings closed down... Trees kneeling and snapping from weight of freezing rain... Hydro poles shatter into pieces... Millions of people left out in the cold... News reports and recent articles have captured the horror, and valour, in detail... so we won't repeat.

Suffice it to say that Canadians have once again shown just how resilient they can be.

No amount of hardship and crisis can prevent Canadians from showing their solidarity with, and empathy for, those in need. Once again an outpouring of help, supplies, and goodwill has earmarked events during this time of crisis.

Canadians can best be described as honest, conscientious, hard working, reliable individuals who happen to take pride in helping others and ensuring that whatever they are doing will not impact adversely on others. Nice combination, n'est-ce-pas ? But don't be mistaken... we can be as assertive, and sometimes as down right agressive, as any other peoples !... but only when we are pushed into a corner. Hey... that sounds like a cat, doesn't it ? Just like a cat, Canadians can also become tigers.

That's it for now... January 18th, 1998.

Visit soon... we plan on adding, changing, improving, bragging in these pages on an ongoing basis.

In the meantime, a sincere thank you is sent to the local newsmedia that have managed to provide the Ottawa-Hull and Region citizens with quality coverage of Crisis-98... aka Ice Age '98. A special thanks to the CJOH NewsDesk crew. A heart felt merci for the fantastic video montage presented on Thursday, January 15th. To say that it was heart wrenching and soul touching would be an understatement. As a Canadian, I for one felt a sense of great pride at seeing so many people helping so many others in need. Truly a picture of what it means to be Canadian, and more importantly... a humanitarian !

Could this video be our first picture of a Canadian Identity ?